Review Cotto Restaurant - Auckland Central

Great place for a group dine. The menu is made so that all the plates are shared and the more people you have the more items you can try. Overall really please with the speed of the food delivered out, the flavours, quantity and taste. To me it was an Italian twist with some nice unique items on the menu so it broke up the heaviness of -for example only pasta dishes. The smaller plates I enjoyed more than the actual mains which I thought I would like-in particular the lamb ragu which looked amazing on photos and irl too, but taste wise I don’t know, it was good but the flavours weren’t as complex as for example compared to spinach goat cheese dumplings which I had no idea what to expect but was nicely taken aback. The gnocchi was also super soft and a bit flavourless but the sauce of asparagus and pea was good and also accompanied nicely with pancetta I think that’s what we got. Though saying that-because we got to tray an array of smaller dishes, they accompanied the main carbs quite nicely, such as the lamb ribs that delivered a yum mouthful of protein aside some more soft sloppy pasta. Drink menu is nicely elaborate but I don’t know much on drinks-got to have a good mocktail spagliato Negroni (iykyk the meme) so I was happy. Dessert wise was a meh it’s aight vibes nice little finisher but I’d personally pass-we got affogato and I believe the chocolate nemesis; both were extremely rich, personally not my cup of coffee. Shoutout to the foccacia, best I’ve had in Auckland. I will dream of this. We had a decent group size of 8-not everyone managed to make it on the dot of our table time-I understand servers need to come around and ask if we want to go ahead but surely not more than two times? We were asked I think around four times and it just felt slightly pushy, again understand they have to keep us in check with times and things but please surely mentioning it once or twice is enough? Other than that no issues with service, food was delivered with courtesy, plates were cleared quite promptly and all was well. Seating arrangements are quite nice. Rowdy atmosphere but standard for k road and popular restaurants, nice to feel the place was packed out and everyone having a good vibe.

Have had the pleasure of dining at Cotto twice and can say that the food is phenomenal. Cotto is a real gem, and one of my favorite restaurants in Auckland. The spinach and goat cheese dumplings are something I think about often. Sooooo good! I really hope you reopen Cotto! Thank you for existing and gracing us with your deliciousness. x

Great location (right on the middle of k rd). Food was very tasty. Entrees are great to share with someone else. Prices were good. The service and stuff were amazing, super friendly and helpful. Highly recommend.

Great experience and great food. Loved everything. The lamb rib was slightly over cooked when we ordered the r second one. Apart from that perfect

This little nook doesn’t shout about itself - just a small lighted circular sign outside. But it’s warm and lively inside. The food is good, the prices affordable, and the service attentive, even on a busy Friday night. We had several starters and just a single main, and that was plenty. The focaccia was excellent, and also the cauliflower. The broccoli came as a single large stalk, and it was a challenge putting it together with its accompaniments. The spinach was like spanakopita without the pastry. The beetroot ravioli was the most creative combination and quite delightful. As for dessert, the chocolate caramel pudding sounded great but didn’t taste vividly of any of its ingredients. Even with drinks, the total was only about $50NZ - seemed a bargain.

Apart from the frustrating inability to book a table beforehand, there is nothing to fault about Cotto. From their delectable food to their warm wait staff, everything was just perfect. Give their beetroot ravioli a shot. The textures were a pleasant surprise. Amongst the entrées, I'd highly recommend the lamb ribs and the cauliflower fritti!

What a delight. I have been eyeing this place for 2 years but kind never went. huge mistake. from the very start we were handed our foccacia (not in photos) and was just amazed. stunning foccacia and we knew form there, it could only get better. next we were given all our sides and appetizers: feta fries, arancini balls, and honey balsamic lamb ribs. can I just say, you can't come to cotto and not get the lamb ribs... GET THEM!!! whilst we primed our stomachs, we sipped down on some delicious spritz, was nothing special, but delightful nonetheless. smaller than I'd hoped but oh well. next we were handed our mains to share: beef ragu, gnocchi, and pork cannelloni. gnocchi was airy, soft, pillowy - as it should be - and it was starkly contrasted with the crunch and bite of the wallnuts. bliss. and the beef ragu was just good, not amazing per se, but very filling and great portion, definitely their biggest dish and worth getting if you are planning to share in a large group like we did. in contrast, maybe don't get the pork cannelloni for sharing, two slim(ish) cannellonis were dished out, tasted great, but just wasn't that much. service was great too, server was very attentive and was proactive in checking in on us visually but did not intrude too much in our conversations which I loved. they're doing great. price is a big thing for everyone, and me too. I came in with a group of 8, total bill was 325, but was charged 344 for the pay wave surcharge. Basically ~$40pp and this bill included many things that left us happy. 7/8 of us ordered drinks as well. orders: 3 feta cheese fries 2 foccacia 2 honey balsamic lamb ribs 2 arancini balls 2 beef ragus 1 gnocchi 1 pork cannelloni.

Food was yummmmm and service was amaaaaazing!!! We chose to sit outside where it was surprisingly warm. Appetizers: Focaccia & Cauliflower Entrees: Lamb ribs, Spaghetti mushrooms & Spinach goat cheese dumplings. Mains: Cannelloni duck & Kumara Gnocchi Deserts: Tiramisu ice cream & Hazelnut chocolate mousse

Very good food! Loved the taste of every thing! The atmosphere is very busy and bustling so getting the attention of the servers is a bit hard, but that’s what you would expect at peak hour and the boss jumped right in to help! Price is on the steep side but very reasonable if you are willing to pay for creative dishes made with care. Portions were good for me (a younger girl) but not sure about bigger eaters. And I’m still not sure about $6 for 4 pieces of focaccia lol 😅 Costed my friends and I $40 each including dessert to share, $60 if you pair with a drink 😁

Cotto was amazing. We loved the service, food & overall vibe. Our favourites were the dumplings & beef Ragu. One tip - get there early as gets very busy. We arrived at 5:45pm on a Friday night & was already full, we got the last table outside, but don’t worry even if winter, outside is still warm enough & you get a great view of the chefs making the magic happen.

My goodness, the best pasta in town (Maltagliati ragu) and the best chocolate dessert in town (the nemesis). Super quick, no fuss, professional, friendly and a good vibe too.

Great food, soothing ambience. We walked in on a Wednesday night, had tables available. We were seated outside and it was beautiful. Ordered dumplings, which was brilliant along with the pork belly. For mains, we had tortellini, gnocchi, the lamb ragu. The winner being the tortellini and the Lamb shank Raghu. Totally worth it. To top this all off, the service was on point. Thank you!

the food was absolutely outstanding!! everything blew us away and the staff were so friendly and warm 10/10 all around!

Came here with friends for dinner. Ambience was good. The lamb was perfectly cooked and yum! That was the star of the night for sure! The food is kind of overrated in my opinion coz I feel like I have eaten way better Italian food, but nevertheless it was good! We had to share our table with few other people and to my surprise it was quite noisy the day we went. The staff are great, super friendly and very accommodating. We needed wheelchair access and they made sure our need was well taken care of! :)

OMG FORGET ABOUT WHATEVER YOUR FAVOURITE RESTAURANT WAS COZ AFTER YOU’VE EATEN HERE IT’S DEFINITELY GOING TO BE COTTO!!! I didn’t even remember to take “before” photos of our food because it was a taste explosion! Gorgeous, out of the way spot on K-Rd that I’ve probably walked past a million times and not taken notice. Wait staff were friendly and suggested I wait at the bar before the rest of my dinner party arrived and then they’d seat us. We got the option to dine inside or on the deck, we decided on the deck and I was worried it would be chilly but it was so warm! If you want tasty food, definitely come to Cotto. The prices are reasonable and the size of the dishes are very good. We ordered 3 small dishes and 2 large dishes and couldn’t finish it all. The ribs were divine. Everyone has to order the ribs when they go. As were the pasta dumplings!!! But the gnocchi was a game changer for me. I usually don’t order it other places because it’s either dry or a bit tasteless… But Cotto gnocchi is light and fluffy, literally melt in your mouth type of gnocchi. Will definitely be making regular visits to Cotto from now on!!!

It's always a pleasure to eat here. Service is always attentive without being invasive, and food is superb and there is never a weak dish (this time my favourite was the gnocchi). They are also brilliant with allergies. Their only issue is how loud it can be, limiting conversation across the big comfy booths. One of the best spots in Auckland, and it remains high on my list for any night out.

A little slice of New York-Italian in Auckland. Best Italian food in Auckland I've ever had. Everything tasted delicious, and in a cosy little spot on K Road. Definitely recommend coming here if you are a lover of Italian food! Service is good, and left very satisfied meal wise and overall experience.

Great place, cheap as chips especially for the quality of the food. The lamb ribs and lamb pasta are a must!

The food here never disappoints. Everything they serve is delightful! Friendly staff and welcoming atmosphere as well. Always enjoy it every time.

It was my first time here and I was wondering where was I hiding these past few years? I just wished I knew of this place long time ago as these guys prepare an amazing Italian Fare. I had been to Italy many times and this place reminds me of the food there, aroma, texture, colour, ingredients etc. Located beside the bridge in K’Road, just across Coco’s Cantina (another great restaurant) this is the place I usually don’t wander around but now that I was introduced to this place, I felt the need to discover what’s around it. The place is quite spacious specially for a K’Road establishment, there were ample seats and it was not cramped.

I would give this place 10 stars the food was so great!! We had to wait for a table and was a bit sad there was no prevalent vegan option on the menu but the food was just so good i don’t care, had a lovely waitress too :)

Yum food and good value for money. Excellent service

First time to this restaurant. Surprise delicious. Highly recommend will go again. Love land rip, zucchini fritti and ravolia

Nice place and service. Had a lovely asparagus gnocchi. It was almost perfect. Some cold cheese on top was not quite right for my taste. I like it and it is very well made, but this is not classic Italian food- it is more a (nice) interpretation.

I came to Cotto on a Monday evening with my friends, arriving around 5:45 pm. The menu was set out nicely to show what dishes you can get for certain prices. Three of us, including me got the rabbit risotto, two of my friends got the lamb ribs and my other friend got the maltagliati lamb shoulder ragu. <br/><br/>The service was alright but the food came out relatively slow. We were informed that food comes out as they are ready so two of my friends got the lamb ribs first and then us four got our bigger mains later on. The lamb ribs were plated weirdly because instead of putting it in two plates (as we ordered two lamb ribs), they combined it into one plate. <br/><br/>When the larger mains arrived, I was really excited to dig into my dish. The first bite was great but then it started to taste not as exciting. I think my expectation for the rabbit risotto was too high. The rabbit was tender but I expected the meat to be mixed into the risotto to add more meaty flavour to the rice. The risotto itself was too minty in my opinion, to the point where it was so overpowering. The menu stated they put lemon in the dish but I couldn't even taste the citrusy flavour, all I could taste was the mint leaves. If you really like mint, you would love this dish but it's just not for me. My friend however really enjoyed her lamb ragu pasta and highly recommends it! <br/><br/>I think I would be back to Cotto but only to try other dishes.

Food: delicious and fresh, pasta made on the day. Reasonably priced and great how it can be shared. Lamb ribs are always a favourite falling off the bone. The ragu pasta is always amazing. <br/>Ambience: wonderful moody scene, it’s always very very busy here you can get a table if you are in early like 5:30 but usually it can be an hour or > wait at peak times. It would be good if you could reserve tables. Outside on the balcony the view is great, just not so great when people are smoking outside and it’s blowing in your face...ew

Eeeerrrmaaagheerdddd this is the best restaurant I've been for a long time! Every dish is a bit edgy, challenging your tastebuds. Will definitely come back more frequently!

-Food is AMAZING (Every single dish!)<br/>-Price is cheap for the quality of food served!<br/>-I would highly recommend the *pork belly entree* and the *chickpea+mozzarella chips entree*! <br/>-The mains of the gnocchi and duck leg were both heavily cheese/cream based, so I would recommend ensuring you make the right choices to balance out your meal! <br/>-Staff was very accomodating, kneeling down to eye height, asking questions to ensure we got the right dishes for us.<br/>-Love the atmosphere, low lighting, urbanised interior, buzzing busy restaurant.<br/><br/>One of my favourite go to places on Kroad!

My partner are I celebrated our engagement here in July, and we could not fault anything.<br/>The food was amazing and generous, we had a set menu and all the dishes were raved about by my family and friends.<br/>The lovely guy who served us was hands down amazing, thank you for your time and banter.<br/>We will be back for sure and would like to thank you all again for your hospitality. Definitely recommend!

Heard about this place from a few friends so decided to give it a shot. Glad I did. The food is rich and deceptively filling. We over ordered but not complaining as we got to try a range of great dishes. The dumplings and duck were notable standouts.

Bad service from FOH manager, otherwise really beautiful food and a great atmosphere. Would recommend the gnocchi.<br/>Only downside was the lady who seemed to be managing tonight was quite rude (not sure if this was because our group didn't fit the 'usual look' of the crowd there) but it did make our experience less enjoyable and made it seem like a we were not wanted. She also rolled her eyes once, and turned away when we were paying. All other staff were really helpful and genuinely nice. We were also seated in likely the worst table next to the entrance on high seats when almost the entire restaurant was empty and it appeared many groups after us came without a booking too an were seating in the main area.<br/>Overall, food was great just wished it matched with their service.

OMG, where do I start? The food is to die for. It's amazing for vegetarians. The dumplings are so yum and so is the gnocchi. The desserts are also very delicious. The only downside is bad parking and that you can't book for under 8 people. If you get Nicholas serving you he's the best!!!!

Creative modern food, great for cheese lovers. Wines are fantastic. Great for sharing. The highlight was the lamb ribs and pork shoulder for me. The only callout is to try and order a slightly more balanced meal for your table. We ordered too many heavy cheese based dishes and got really stuffed quite quickly. Otherwise would have been perfect.

We had dinner on a Friday night. We were 6 people. Apparently you can’t book under 8 people. So we came early at 5:30 pm. <br/>And every staff was really nice. Especially the female staff who sang for my b day she had an amazing personality. I want to say thank you. I never received such great service.<br/><br/>Also the food was amazing. Seriously well cooked and well balanced dishes. <br/><br/>For the entree we had focaccia, arancini, cos anchovy mayo.<br/>Every entree was super delicious. My favourite was cos anchovy mayo. I was kinda surprised that chef made this combination. Every ingredient complimented each other. <br/>And for the main we had gnocchi kumara gorgonzola walnut , cappelletti pork shoulder, maltagliati beef ragu. Personally gnocchi was amazing... it is on another level. Highly recommend. <br/><br/>Nice atmosphere , nice staff, amazing food, reasonable price this is just a perfect restaurant. <br/>Thanks for the amazing experience.

Terrible seating service: half of my group arrived at cotto and there were plenty of unbooked tables. We requested a table for 4 people saying the other half of our group were a few mins away. The greeter was rude and asked us whether our “few mins” meant over 30mins implying we were lying and said the restaurant gets full very quickly so we should wait at the bar and call the other half of our group who arrived within 2mins so making us wait at the bar instead of a free table was pointless. Unsure if he was being racist but we definitely didn’t feel welcome and it affected our experience. <br/><br/>Food: average. Fries had a Smokey taste which was overbearing; Gnocci Kumara was very creamy but you may like it depending on taste. The salted caramel in the chocolate nemesis was barely there but the tiramisu was delicious except for the biscotti that came with it.

Ordered the lamb ribs, chickpea chips and rottolo pork shoulder. All were delicious. Service was friendly and attentive and overall, a lovely experience.

Amazing lunch experience! Will put this as our regular go to from now. Friendly staff and really good pasta at reasonable prices!<br/><br/>Really good amount of vegetarian options!

If you come here get the Gnocchi, lamb ribs and chocolate nemesis!! <br/>There’s nothing to fault about any of these other than the fact that you want to eat everything to yourself haha <br/>The dim lit cozy restaurant has great ambience and the only thing you have to do is wait a little cause they can get really busy especially on a Friday/Saturday. So be prepared to wait but you can always pop into one of the cool bars along Kroad while you wait:) <br/>

Great environment and ambiance. Friendly staff and good food. Food comes out support fast. No bookings for under 8 so come early.<br/><br/>Lamb ribs were good 4/5<br/>Beef cheek 5/5<br/>Focaccia 5/5<br/>Duck leg 4/5<br/><br/>Would definitely come back. Good value for money.

After long anticipation, me and my mate finally manage to find time to check out this restaurant. We arrrived at 6pm without booking, and was pleased to find a seat without any waiting.<br/>Now about the foods. As many before has pointed out, the lamb rib are indeed phenomenal, the only id wish for is more honey balsamic. We tried the beef shin maltagliati and gnocchi. The maltagliati were cooked to perfection. The gnocchi were great, rich and creamy, definitely a great choice for vegetarian. The deserts were good but a bit overpriced. And the fact that they charge sparkling waters for $10 is less than ideal.<br/>Overall, cotto is still a great place for Italian lovers, with delicious foods that doesn't break the wallet. Would recommend.

Very impressed by the quality of the food here at Cotto. The ambience is also amazing, chill warm vibes and super cosy atmosphere. The staff are very friendly and good with recommendations. <br/><br/>We ordered the lamb ribs and feta fries to start, the ribs were delicious and I definitely recommend ordering these! The fries were slightly average but still yummy. <br/><br/>The beef shin pasta was perfectly slow cooked and amazing! I personally didn’t like the gnocchi as it was less flavourful but if you’re after something vegetarian I was told it’s very popular, we saw it on the other tables too. I was pleasantly surprised to stumble on this lovely restaurant, we will be back!

Had the beef ragu pasta and the Gnocchi,beef was very tender and the sauce was nice and rich. Home-made pasta was very fresh too. Gnocchi was so soft and creamy.Friendly and very fast service. Definitely worth the visit.

Cute space, wait staff are either super friendly or look like they want to cut you. Food was delicious, quite rich so would recommend getting a side of greens. Will be back for sure.

Food was amazing but the service was extremely terrible! My friend and I walked in and waited at the front to be seated while the waitress who wore a polka dots shirt saw us but didn’t even smile and serve us. <br/><br/>We ordered the starter- cauliflower dish which was delicious, lamb ribs were just amazing and the pasta was heaven but a bit greasy because when you finished the pasta you can clearly see a thick layer of oil... <br/><br/>When we just finished our dishes, the waitress came and collected all the plates but a couple who sat next to us(caucasians), there’re several empty plates there but the waitress didn’t interrupt them. I don’t know whether it’s a racist action or not but my friend and I we did feel offended during our whole eating. I hope they do improve their customer service please.<br/>

YUM YUM YUM! came for dinner on a Friday night - arrived just after 5 to take advantage of the happy hour and had a $10 spritz. The pork belly and eggplant were good but the highlight was definitely the pasta dishes. Had the lamb pasta and the sweet corn and pancetta torteloni and both were delicious! Also the restaurant is quite reasonably priced which is also a bonus! Service was also quick and the waitresses were friendly!

Undoubtedly, the best Italian spot I’ve visited in Auckland and it was refreshing to find a place that serves other dishes besides pasta and pizza. <br/><br/>We ordered five dishes and one dessert between the two of us. We chose the Fried Eggplant w/ Whipped Ricotta, Lamb Ribs Honey Balsamic, Tortellini w/ Sweetcorn, Pancetta and Taleggio, Pork Belly Cucumber Chilli, and the Tiramisu Ice Cream Biscotti.<br/><br/>I was blown away by every single dish and the only fault I could find was that the biscotti was too hard and impossible to bite into. Although I loved all the savoury dishes, my favourite by just a margin would have to be the lamb ribs. Both the flavours and texture were absolutely amazing and quite new to me.<br/><br/>Service was warm and the dishes came out at a reasonable speed, we didn’t have to wait between any of them except for dessert which was the preferred option anyway.

This is a great place to go with friends who like to share plates. The prices were really good, the portions not massive, but the food being really rich and heavy, you will be leaving with a full stomach. Stellar food & service, but definitely suggest you book at table beforehand, it gets busy!

I tried Cotto for the first time last week.<br/><br/>I know, I know, I am super late on the bandwagon, but I finally made it… and I am so glad I did! It was everything I imagined and more.<br/><br/>Cotto originally opened as a handmade-pasta pop up, but two years later they still occupy the same spot. Why, you may ask? Well, the team behind Cotto serve incredible Italian-inspired food. And some of the most flavourful dishes I have tried in Auckland. And the best part? Ordering 10 plus dishes between four will only cost you around $45, including a cocktail/beer/wine. Such a steal!

Went to dinner on Friday and Cotto was pumping.  Service was a little slow starting off but got going fast, everyone was very friendly and helpful as we were ordering share plates for a large group.  The food was very good, standouts for me were the Panzanella with white anchovies, the spinach balls, the lamb ribs and the asparagus canneloni, but it was all good.  I enjoyed the Italian red wine and finished off with the small but deliciously rich chocolate nemesis.  Great value too, was very reasonable for the amount of food and wine we had, if I could give it 4.5 stars I would, highly enjoyable

The portions of the cappelletti and ravioli were very small (3 pieces each), but the maltagliati was a reasonable size. Although the menu is made to be shared, the small portion sizes still leave much to be desired.<br/><br/>The cheese-filled ravioli I ordered tasted bland. I preferred the savoury lamb maltagliati.<br/><br/>As others mentioned, it was definitely loud and was difficult to have conversations. This could easily be improved.<br/><br/>Overall, small expensive portions that could be interesting if ordered as the restaurant intended them to be ordered (many different dishes, 'main'-sized and small, to be shared). However, I personally would prefer larger, heartier dishes.

I came here on a Wednesday evening with my friend and the place was packed, we managed to get a table though. If you are looking for a quiet place, then Cotto is not for you. The service is fantastic and super attentive. However, the food was really a let down and we were both disappointed. Everything was far too salty and underwhelming. Unfortunately, we won't be rushing back. Overall, a really cool place with great service, but the food needs some attention.

Came by without a booking and managed to get a seat at the balcony outside overlooking the motorway. Nice place to sit and chat since it's not too noisy, just be aware that you will be facing the sun until it sets.<br/><br/>Even though I was seated outside I didn't have to wait too long to get my order taken. I went with the pork belly and the beef short rib cappelletti. The pork belly was nice and crispy. The cucumber and mint salad that came with it was quite refreshing and mixed well with the crispy pork. The cappelletti was quite delicious, although it the filling was mostly ricotta and salsa verde rather than the beef ribs. It was still really tasty. Had the chocolate nemesis for dessert which was really rich and delicious. The mascarpone on top was a bit sharp which contrasted with the sweetness of the caramel and the pudding.<br/><br/>It was a really delicious meal, although the only fault that I have was the serving size, I felt it was a tad small, particularly the chocolate nemesis. The prices are decent though so ordering an extra plate wouldn't cost a whole lot more. <br/><br/>A really nice place for pasta but they do seem to be quite busy with around 30-minute waits. Worth the wait if you have the time or patience.

Cotto what a venue. Great music and vibe but a bit loud. Maybe im getting old. The focaccia was amazing did not expect the a anise or what ever was in it but i could eat this over and over. The star was the spinach and goat cheese dumplings these are amazing. Finished with sundried tomato ravioli which was also very good. No meat didnt even think about it 5/5 will be back!

We tried the zucchini fritti as well as the heirloom tomatoes to start and both were delicious. The fritti were a standout. The maltagliati with lamb shanks were wonderful, melt in the mouth tender and pasta cooked to perfection. My husband had the gnocchi with sausage. The gnocchi were like soft clouds and the sausage was tasty. We finished with pannacotta which was heavenly. I would recommend getting along here as soon as possible.

Amazing service and cool atmosphere but the drinks were a bit overpriced and the food was nice but a bit expensive for quantity in my opinion. Had the chickpea chips that were yum but for $15 think they were worth more like $10 and the cannelloni for $20 could have been slightly bigger (3 instead of 2). But worth checking out if you are in the area

Been here twice in the last few months and both times were excellent.  Excellent food, fun atmosphere - only negative was that for our first visit we had a table near the door and was very cold everytime people arrived/departed.  Not a huge wine selection, but enough to find something for everyone.

Our waiter was great! Had a great sense of humour too :-) had the pork belly which was amazing! Wish I had more of it! Also had the spinach dumplings gnocchi and the caramel pudding. The food was really good just rich. You might want to share the gnocchi. Good portion sizes for a great price.

My partner brought me here for my birthday dinner. Ambience inside looked okay however due to them not taking bookings, we decided to just take a table outside which I preferred, alot quieter.<br/>Food : 3.5/5<br/>Service : 4/5<br/>Ambience : NA<br/>We ordered the pork belly, Cabbage salad, chick pea chips and beef ragu and all tasted good, but very average. The dessert was also average.<br/>Is it worth revisiting and waiting 30 min for a seat? Hmm I think there are many other options left to try.

As a big Italian lover, I’ve tried most of the establishments in Auckland. I loved the sounds of Amano, Baduzzi and of course one of my favourite restaurants, Prego. However, I was absolutely spoiled by the amazing food last night when we went to Cotto for a work celebratory dinner! Cotto has been an up and coming restaurant that have lingered in people’s tongues for a while but I haven’t made the time to visit it. Because you can’t go wrong with Italian, we opted for the $45 group set menu and decided to try a little bit of everything that Cotto has to offer!

My group found the food to be good and a fair price. However we were highly unimpressed with the communication and service from the maitre’d. Our group of three waited one hour for a table on a Wednesday night. No update was given from the maitre’d and we believe a group of four (attractive females) who arrived after us were seated first by the male maitre’d. After approaching the maitre’d when there were vacant tables in the restaurant we were given the worst table beside the front entrance/till. The wait staff were ‘not allowed’ to seat us so we had to wait while the maitre’d served a queue of people who were splitting a bill. Overall the service was below what we expected of a top 50 rated restaurant.<br/><br/>PS: If you have an expensive coat, it is better to not wear it here as they just dumped it on the coffee machine (see the pic, the white jacket at the bottom of the picture is my friends) <br/>

The restaurant never takes booking unless for group of 6 . One time I needed to wait for 45 mins the other time is 1 hour 30 mins ... Who are going to have dinner at 9 Pm? The side dishes taste better than the main. I ordered Duck Ravioli, hardly taste any duck ...

Came here on a Saturday night with a group of 9 friends. Our table wasn't ready when we arrived so we waited outside for about ten minutes. We we're then told it was ready and to come inside but weren't shown to it and couldn't see a table. Then saw a group of people standing around a table so asked and were told it was ours. The problem here is that this restaurant is so popular but the venue is too small and everyone can't fit inside properly. It's also so loud that you can't have a good conversation with friends. We placed our orders, our waitress was very friendly. To start I order the pumpkin chips with feta topping. These were delicious, slightly too salty I don't think they need extra salt on them with the salty feta too but very yum nonetheless. Another waitress that was helping our main waitress was not very clear and tell us what items were when bringing them to the table and I ate some of a friend's food before realizing, a good waitress should know who ordered what. For main, well they forgot my main, it was never ordered, must be because it was so loud she couldn't hear me, she graciously offered it to me on the house and it came quite quickly. I had the duck ravioli, it was nice but just nice, pasta was perfect duck was too rich and maybe a bit one dimensional in flavour

This place has been so over hyped it’s shocking. The food I tried included the lamb the ravioli the pork belly the chickpea fries the pumpkin frittata. They were all very very average. The worst was the spinach and ricotta dumplings. It tasted like wilted spinach with very little ricotta and completely lacked any seasoning/flavour. My mates felt the same as I initially assumed it was just me. I’ve honestly been to many many better restaurants in Auckland this was perhaps my least favourite.

Amazing food and service! Recommend the Gnocchi, Risotto and Dumplings and The Bread. The wait staff were very friendly and were on point with their recommendations for dishes! Will definitely be back for more (Make sure to get there earlier to avoid long wait times) 😛

I stumbled onto Cotto and was looking forward to trying it out. They don’t take phone bookings and it is certainly popular, so we were squeezed in and offered an hour time limit. <br/><br/>Beautifully presented dishes that I was unfortunately rather disappointed with and won't be rushing back for. The chickpea sticks, although an extremely generous portion, were not as cheesy as I expected and really salty.. The lamb ribs were crispy but the meat lacked any sort of seasoning. And the most disappointing dish of the evening was the rotolo beef cheek with porcini béchamel - barely any meat, too many layers of spinach and just very little flavor overall. I was looking so forward to a punch of porcini and it just didn't deliver. <br/><br/>My favourite dishes were the goats cheese and sage dumplings and the panna cotta and rhubarb dessert - worth a try. I do hope we just happened to catch them on a bad night!

Absolutely amazing! <br/>Ambience, food and service outstanding <br/>Our lovely waitress was very helpful <br/>Between 2 we ordered <br/>Small sides we had the baby beets and pumpkin fritti which was like a pumpkin chip with cheese on top a must try! <br/>Entree the dumplings which I couldn’t fault <br/>Mains we shared the gnocci and the duck ravioli.<br/>Gnocchi (pictured below) exceeded my expectation, the duck ravioli (pictured below) was good but I found the corners of the pasta a bit dry. <br/>When it came to the bill I was pleasantly surprised, such good value!

I shared a few entrees here and a bottle of bubbles with a couple of friends. Sensational flavors that bring a unique experience to the palate. A really excellent departure from the expected. <br/><br/>The lamb dish is to die for- I wish I didn’t share that! And the mozzarella sticks— well, it’s deep fried cheese. I don’t need to get into that. <br/><br/>Great atmosphere and a cool outdoor veranda when it’s not raining. It did take us ages to get a table by it was well worth the wait as the service is quick, professional and personal. <br/><br/>

Heard a lot about this place and had to try it out. Packed to the rafters last night, we waited 90mins for a table. Happily popped into Shanghai Lils for a tipple while we waited! The host in Cotto was great, very friendly and accommodating. Food was good, although some dishes were very acidic and others just lacked that zesty lemony kick! Beets were roasted beautifully but a tad too sour! Dumplings were somewhat bland, needed more goats cheese and more acidity.. Some acidity! We were told the sprouts were sold out but magically arrived (after we changed our order & ordered the pork!). I loved the idea but a bit flavourless to be fair. Pork belly okay.. crackling a little chewy! Duck ravioli were so so.. good pasta but for $20 the duck was hard to find! Gnocchi and Gorgonzola was more-ish and delightful! Burnt orange panna cotta was panna cotta like but needed slightly more gelatin to hold its shape yet keeping that wobble. The burnt orange flavour was very prominent, a little too prominent for me! Flavours almost there and will be back! Although service was minimal and HOSPITALITY was non existent! I ended up having to walk to the counter to find a waiter texting and ordered my dessert from there. Come on guys, so much potential!!!

The wife picked the venue for her birthday dinner, as they have just won Best New Restaurant on Metro.<br/><br/>We got there at 7 pm, and was put onto a wait list with a 45 minute approximate wait.<br/><br/>We weren't informed that there was a balcony waiting area that we could order drinks at, so we were waiting outside the restaurant for 20 minutes in the cold until I was informed by the manager that there was a waiting area/bar that was warmer.<br/><br/>Got seated at 8:15 pm, which wasn't too long but with better communication the wait could've been a more positive one.<br/><br/>The food was great, but somewhat short of exceptional. The chickpea chips were a good start, the beef cheek rotolo was underseasoned but still quite delicious, and the duck ravioli was beautifully cooked, paired with a to-die-for jerusalem artichoke puree. I have to say, the lamb ribs were stellar!! Melt in your mouth goodness, paired with a tangy balsamic sauce that cuts through the fattiness of the ribs.<br/><br/>However, the plates keep getting taken away a tad too quickly, and with pasta dishes, we didn't have time to even soak up the sauces, which was a bit of a let down.<br/><br/>The burnt orange pannacotta and the chocolate nemesis was a great way to end the night.<br/><br/>Overall, Cotto's food is the main star of the event, but the service could be improved with better communication. However, Cotto is destined to be one the best eateries on K Road, and I am already looking forward to my next dining experience there.

Probably my favourite restaurant in Auckland to this date. The food was spectacular, the atmosphere was on point and the staff were polite and attentive.<br/><br/>For the food, I ordered the olives and zuchhini fritti to start, polenta chips and pork belly for the main. All were absolutely astounding. Will be returning!

Oh yumminess.<br/><br/>Cotto is the new popular kid on the K Road block. and deservedly so.<br/><br/>Do I have to say more?<br/><br/>The menu is small, inviting and not overly expensive. The food is very, very tasty, the decor is industrial hipness.<br/><br/>The wine list is good.<br/><br/>The staff are professional, friendly and decorative.<br/><br/>The tables are not too close together (makes a change).<br/><br/>We loved it.

After hearing 2 friends rave about this place And reading the stellar review in Viva I knew I had to try this place. Cotto doesn't take bookings for smaller groups but showing up before 6 on a Friday night is fine if you're after a table for two. The menu is different from the one on Zomato at the moment as it's been updated for autumn.<br/><br/>For starters we ordered the foccacia and farinata. I saw a video of the foccacia being made on Cotto's Instagram so I was really excited to try it but as someone who really doesn't enjoy liquorice type flavors I really didn't like the star anise flavour in the bread. The farinata on the other hand was a pleasant cheesy surprise. It's pretty much like when you accidentally get some cheese on the sandwich press when you're making a toastie, crispy and delicious. The beetroot starter was surprisingly sour, not super sweet like beetroot can be and went well with the crunchy dollops of hummus it came with.<br/><br/>The winner dish of the evening for me had to be the lamb ribs small dish - beautifully seared with a crunchy oily side but still tender and with lots of lovely fat that makes lamb so tasty. From the big dish menu we got the beef cheek pasta. The flavours in this dish is bit more subtle compared to the other ones so I think I would've enjoyed one of the other mains more. For dessert we had the chocolate truffle cake with salted caramel. Rich and decadent, its definitely one for sharing after a heavy meaty carby meal. Service was pleasant enough although a bit disjointed.<br/><br/>Food: 5/5<br/>Service: 3/5<br/>Instagrammability: 5/5<br/>Value for money: 5/5<br/>

Cotto is in a great space on K Rd with a balcony overlooking some of the city. They don’t take bookings for smaller tables so it pays to arrive early.<br/>Service on our visit was good - friendly & knowledgeable of the menu. The drinks menu has lots of unique options.<br/>The food menu again is unique & innovative with a focus on their handmade pasta which is a must order. The lamb ribs as well were super tasty. The pork belly was good to, but no so keen on some of the flavours on the meat - not horrible, just quite intense. The cucumber salad it came with was delicious though. <br/>For desserts the brûlée was a hit! The afogato was nice too although the ice cream was very bitter.<br/>Definitely visiting again! So much more of the menu to sample - was so hard to decide

We had dinner here Tuesday evening, arrived about 6:40pm, and it was very busy. We shared the foccacia and farinata to start which were the highlights of the meal. The rosemary and fennel combo on the foccacia was perfect and the bread was just the right amount of chewy, soft and crunchy. This was my first time tasting farinata and I loved it, especially the crispy sage leaves on top. Definitely a 5 star start to the evening. We shared the ragu and gnocchi as our main. Both dishes were very flavorful and very rich with their own unique flavours. The pasta was perfectly cooked. The ragu was a bit heavy on the fennel. Definitely a good idea to share these dishes, as eating one on your own would be too rich. Also it would have been nice to have our water glasses refilled at this point. Unfortunately the desserts were a let down. We shared an affogato and the chocolate "nemesis". The affogato was served in a water glass, with the tiniest amount of chocolate ice cream and a single espresso to pour over. Definitely not worth the price. It should have been listed under the coffee menu, not the dessert menu. For the price, it would have been nicer with a generous serve of vanilla ice cream and some whipped cream. The "nemesis" turned out to be two mouthfuls of chocolate ganache with a teaspoon of cream (or mascarpone?) on top. Very rich, but again slightly over-priced. We experienced quite slow service (we were there for over 2 hours). We wanted to give this 3.5 stars, but can't work out how to do half stars???

From pop up to new home on K Road – Cotto is serving up delicate but comforting pasta dishes. Following suit to the unique hipster eateries along Krd Cotto is no different – not to say that isn’t a bad thing. It has a great indoor open vibe with the added options to chill on a couch or enjoy the outdoor bar for a meal or a drink.

The pork ravioli I had here was delicious. I liked the decor and the funky crockery was a cool touch. Attentive staff and a great experience overall!

Stumbled in on a Friday night at a friends recommendation. Great food and an original take on Italian, moving from the same old stuff one usually finds in a typical Italian restaurant. Great selection of vines - do give the Sangiovese a try!

Tucked away down the quieter end of k road is this hidden little gem. Contemporary meets classic Italian meets tapas. Every dish we had was fresh and full of flavour. Happy that they are staying for the rest of the year, hopefully will be longer!

Had a dinner there last week. We came in around 6 on a Thursday night and it was nice and relaxing atmosphere. Ordered gnocchi, blue cheese dumplings, brussel sprouts and fennel and were very impressed with it! They also do happy hour so we got a special negroni as well. The service was amazing! Our waitress was super attentive and we didn't have to wait for our meals for too long! Such a great spot, will definitely come back for dinner! 💜

Food was amazing!<br/>We started with the focaccia which was the most springy bread we've ever had. It was light, moist and super tasty!<br/><br/>For mains, we ordered the signature gnocchi & the beef ragu.<br/><br/>For both the pastas, these were well seasoned and surprisingly not heavy. With most pasta dishes, they're too rich and leave you struggling to finish the second half of the meal. Not at Cotto. Here the pastas were well balanced and not too rich, allowing you to keep enjoying the meal, going back for more, and being left satisfied.<br/><br/>For those weary of the gorgonzola in the gnocchi dish, this is a subtle hint. The dish is well rounded, with the gnocchi so delicate, it dissolves in the mouth.<br/><br/>For dessert, I opted for the special, the tiramisu. I wasn't that amazed; the coffee was a bit too bitter and a bit too much of a punch in the face. <br/><br/>Apart from the dessert, we really enjoyed our meal. Hope to go back before they close at the end of the year!

Awesome place with a great atmosphere <br/><br/>Tried most of the menu and would say you definitely can't miss the homemade focaccia, olives, Brussel sprouts, lamb ribs or beef Ragu :)<br/><br/>Can't wait to come back!

My partner and I had a mid week dinner here with family. I had high hopes when I was told it specialised in fresh pasta but it was a huge disappointment. Firstly, they have very few wines available and they were out of one of the whites.<br/><br/>We had the spinach and goat's cheese dumplings in sage butter as a starter to share and it was the only good dish we had. I had a beef ragu which was already too rich and salty before they drowned it in unnecessary parmesan. The parmesan should have been on the side.<br/><br/>Two people got the special lamb shoulder cannelloni of the day and the dish was a mess. The cannelloni was crispy and toasted, sitting on a plate of bechamel sauce. The cannelloni had more olives in it than lamb, and olives were not listed on the menu!<br/><br/>The third person had a risotto and it was underwhelming. The flavours did not work in the dishes we had, everything was complicated when it didn't need to be. Pasta can be amazing, even when it is simple. A real disappointment this place does not understand that.

This place does the most amazing fresh pastas and change their menu frequently. I have only been here once but hoping to be able to make it there again.<br/>We had 4 pasta dishes between the 2 of us. It was probably a bit too much food but I have no regrets!<br/><br/>My favourite pasta was the beetroot one. It was so fresh and tasty and also unique. I have not had these types of pasta anywhere in nz before and is very similar style to what I like to make at home. So it's nice to be able to go out and try someone else's and not have to do all the work.<br/>The gnocchi was so pillowy and soft. The best I have had so far from anywhere.<br/>I hope to be back again!